Display and dispensing container



M. WELLIVER 2,802,602

DISPLAY AND DISPENSING CONTAINER Aug. 13, 1957 Filed Aug 25, 1954 Marshall Well/var INVENTOR.

*' nitc I States Patent 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-154) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers for displaying and dispensing merchandise, such as fruits and vegetables, or other articles which a customer may individually select.

An important object of the invention is to provide a transparent tube having an open bottom and supported in an elevated position on a tray, table or the like and onto which articles placed in the tube are dispensed from the bottom of the tube onto the tray for convenient selection and packaging.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the device supported on a tray or table;

Figure 3 is a top plan view; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates an unobstructed tubular container or cylinder, open at both ends and of uniform diameter, which is preferably constructed of plastic or other suitable self-supporting transparent material and which is supported in an upstanding position by triangular, radial legs 6 at the lower portion of the container and which extend downwardly below the container to support the latter in a predetermined elevated position on a tray, table or the like 7 on which the container is placed.

Fruit, vegetables or other articles of merchandise indicated at 8 are placed in the top of the container and which are dispensed onto the tray or table 7 from the elevated lower end of the container so that the lowermost articles which have been first placed in the container are the first to be dispensed therefrom. In this manner, spoilage is reduced to a minimum since the removal or selection of the articles from the tray or table and which have been on display the longest period of time are replenished by articles placed later in the container and dispensed from the lower end thereof.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination with a tray, a dispensing display container of the character described comprising: a vertical, transparent, unobstructed cylinder of uniform diameter throughout mounted on the tray, said cylinder being open at both ends for receiving, displaying and discharging by gravity into the tray the product to be dispensed, and a plurality of fiat, substantially triangular, radial legs having their upper end portions fixed exteriorly at circumferentially spaced points to the lower end portion of the cylinder and depending therefrom and engaged in the tray for supporting said cylinder in an elevated position in said tray for the passage of the product therebetween, said legs comprising outwardly and downwardly inclined outer edges and vertical inner edges aligned with the cylinder, said legs constituting dividers in the tray for the product.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,763,551 Brown June 10, 1930 2,503,886 Olson Apr. 11, 1950 

